Even now, Preki taking fire

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RYAN WOLSTAT, QMI Agency

Sep 15, 2010

, Last Updated: 10:31 PM ET

Having had a few shots fired his way by former players Julian de Guzman and Dwyane De Rosario on Tuesday, just fired Toronto FC head coach Preki could not quite bite his tongue in response a day later.

Preki's run in Toronto came to a shocking end when he was axed Tuesday, along with longtime general manager Mo Johnston.

While telling ESPN he had "no regrets" and leaves "with his head held high," the former MLS coach of the year dismissed the disparaging remarks made by de Guzman and De Rosario with comments that will surely make the fiery coach public enemy No. 1 in this country, at least where soccer is concerned.

De Guzman told the Toronto Sun on Tuesday:

"When Preki was here, to be honest, there wasn't really any system ... That was the major thing missing in the training and preparation for the game. There was nothing to work with."

De Rosario had admitted to reporters that Preki's strict, demanding style had worn out the players.

"I don't need to elaborate on the things that De Rosario and De Guzman said," Preki told ESPN.

"You can see the work I've done with Chivas USA (three playoff appearances). It's a couple of Canadian guys making those comments. That's all I have to say about that."

TFC started well under Preki, but the players complained that there was too much running and not enough time spent on tactics.

The club is in a 1-6-3 tailspin and its offence is tied for second-worst in the league.

"I just think that if you come in every day and you ask for commitment and hard work, that's not too much to ask for," Preki said. "That's the bottom line."

Recent reports indicated Preki's interim replacement Nick Dasovic and other staff members campaigned to ownership for his removal and interestingly, Preki did not shoot that line of thinking down.

When asked if he thought Dasovic -- another Canadian -- undermined him, he responded:

"He's in charge now. It's up to you to guess."

Preki also said he would reveal more about what went wrong with the club at a later date.

Toronto is five points out of a playoff spot with time rapidly running out.